The World Today
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has fired the head of the Pentagon's intelligence agency, General Jeffrey Kruse, who had expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of the US military's June bombing campaign against Iran's nuclear facilities, known as Operation Midnight Hammer.
Contrary to the White House's opinion, which declared the bombings a resounding success, the Pentagon agency's initial assessment concluded that the campaign had had a "limited" impact.
Finally, in a brief statement sent to major US media outlets, a spokesperson for the agency confirmed that Kruse "no longer serves as director" of the agency, which will be temporarily filled by his current deputy, Christine Bordine.
U.S. congressional sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to NBC that Kruse's dismissal was attributed to a "loss of confidence" in his ability to manage the position, without providing further details.
Separately, Department of Defense sources have confirmed two other dismissals: that of the head of the Navy Reserve, Vice Admiral Nancy Lacore, and that of the supervisor of the Naval Special Warfare Command, Vice Admiral Milton Sands, also without further explanation.
